Fly-fishing tournament offers hefty prize

A $10,000 cash prize is at stake for the second annual Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly Masters Tournament on Sept. 26-27 in Cherokee.

Sponsored by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Fisheries and Wildlife Management in partnership with the North Carolina Fly-Fishing Team, the top three teams in the two-day, two-person competition will split the prize money with $5,000 going to the first-place team, $3,000 going to the second-place team, and $2,000 to the third-place team.

The Rumble is the only fly-fishing tournament to award this much prize money. The only other tournament to ever offer such a hefty cash purse was the nationwide “Fly-Fishing Masters” series produced by the Outdoor Life Television Network (OLN) from 2004-2006. The grand prize of $50,000 was split among the top three finishers. The event consisted of four regional qualifiers and a final round in varying locations, but both the television channel and national tournament were cancelled.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Fisheries and Wildlife Management have sponsored the event since its inception and have embraced the opportunity to promote its fishery through this tournament.

“The Tribe is very proud of their fishery and intends to make this tournament a premier event to attract world-class anglers,” said tournament spokesperson Christopher Lee, who is also a member of the North Carolina Fly-Fishing Team. “A large prize should attract a lot of angling talent from across the country.”

Furthermore, the event is set in the Ravensford Valley where anglers often find themselves fishing among wild elk and other native wildlife

For more information about the Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly Masters Tournament visit www.RumbleintheRhodo.com or call 828.421.0172 or 828.269.6529. For more information on the North Carolina Fly-Fishing Team visit www.flyfishingteamnc.com.